Organized by Chile-California Council
Help Chile Rise: 5,000 Families Need Us Today!
Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted community,
Imagine waking up to the smell of smoke and ash, your house gone, friends and family missing, your future uncertain. This is the reality for over 5,000 families in the coastal city of Viña del Mar located in the Valparaíso Region of Chile after wildfires swept through in early February, leaving hundreds dead and even more missing. And not only homes were destroyed, but also the Botanical Garden, a 400-hectare haven for 1,300 unique species, was lost to the flames.
As the Chile-California Council (CCC), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering deep connections between Chile and California, we feel a profound commitment and emotional bond to help Viña del Mar stand up again. Both regions are ‘twin’ territories, facing similar challenges like wildfires and climate change. ‘Plaza Viña del Mar’, a park in the heart of downtown Sausalito named after its Chilean sister city, is a symbol of our shared bond. Witnessing this devastation reminds us of the importance of our mission and the power of collaboration and mutual support.
With the fires extinguished, Viña del Mar faces the most difficult challenge: reconstruction. Right now, 5,825 roofs are gone, impacting 30,000 lives. The total reconstruction cost is estimated at US $1.1 billion, an astronomical sum for a developing country like Chile. We need your generous support TODAY to help the rebuilding efforts and provide ongoing relief to affected communities.
With your help, we can make a huge difference:
Emergency housing: Keep providing shelter, food, water, and medical care for families who lost absolutely everything.
Reconstruction materials: Help families rebuild their homes and community facilities.
Botanical Garden Restoration: Preserve Viña del Mar’s green lung for the community and future generations.
Every donation brings us closer to healing and your generous contribution will not go unnoticed. To ensure an effective distribution of the funds we collect, we are in direct contact with local authorities and organizations, who constantly inform us of the immediate needs and where your contribution will have the most impact.
There is no small contribution, every dollar matters! Please consider donating TODAY and share it on social media and with your network: family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, school friends... everybody! Let's not leave our sister city alone. Together, we can give the families of Viña del Mar the hope and support they need to rise again.
With immense gratitude,
Chile-California Council
For more information on the Viña del Mar wildfires and its devastating consequences, please visit the following links:
The NYTimes - Wildfires on Chile’s Coast
The NYTimes - Chile’s Burned Botanical Garden
The Weather Channel - Before & After Chile's Fires
*Donors will receive tax receipts from PayPal Giving Fund.
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